<論文>モースの「全体性」概念の検討 : 「贈与論」を契機として

Abstract

Marcel Mauss shows in his 'Essai sur le don, ' that men by their nature, give presents (communicate) each other, and that they, in doing so, obey the three obligatory principles, which command you to give a present, to receive one and to make one in return generously. He takes this recognition through ranging over an extensive anthropological literature concerning the issue. It appers slightly curious, however, that he tries to apply it to the problems which his contemporary modern French Society suffers from. Though he limits the domain of the research to the archaic or so-called 'primitive' societies at the beginning of his discussion, he concludes his argument by maintaining that those obligatory principles of present are still valid even in our modern society. He regards them as permanent in any society of human-being, modern or archaic. This is because men exchange things not only for economical or utilitarian motive but also for the purpose of giving and receiving their affection each other. And, according to Mauss, most of modern people are living a life in an atmosphere in which presents, obligations and liberality mingle together. It is expedient that you follow his argument on this point with reference to his some other theses. Discussing the cooperation of the sociology and the psychology, for example, he emphasizes that human thought process is under a strong restriction by society through the medium of a collective representation; languages or notions, etc. The view of Mauss on a successive transfer of presents is this: in an exchange of a present, people are infiltrated with a deep feeling of intimacy. It is still true in a modern society which has partly settled a new economic system. We have to remember the importance of this aspect of the exchange.